News

The Pen That Buzz Aldrin Used To Save The Apollo 11 Mission Just Sold At Auction For $850,000

On July 20, 1969, Buzz Aldrin used this pen to activate a damaged circuit breaker, allowing the lunar module to lift off the surface of the Moon.

By Ella Spitz • Jul 17, 2026

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The Pen That Buzz Aldrin Used To Save The Apollo 11 Mission Just Sold At Auction For $850,000

On July 20, 1969, Buzz Aldrin used this pen to activate a damaged circuit breaker, allowing the lunar module to lift off the surface of the Moon.

By Ella Spitz • July 17, 2026

Meet The Asaro Mudmen, The Papua New Guinea Warriors Who Disguise Themselves With Eerie Masks

The Asaro Mudmen of Papua New Guinea cover their bodies in white clay and wear terrifying masks, but they're not the fearsome warriors that they appear to be.

By Braden Bjella • Jul 17, 2026

News

Meet The Asaro Mudmen, The Papua New Guinea Warriors Who Disguise Themselves With Eerie Masks

The Asaro Mudmen of Papua New Guinea cover their bodies in white clay and wear terrifying masks, but they're not the fearsome warriors that they appear to be.

By Braden Bjella • July 17, 2026

A Teenage Orphan Who Died In Battle During The Revolutionary War Once Had No Name — But Forensic Scientists Just Identified Him

Researchers discovered that the previously-unknown teenager was John Pumphrey, a boy from Maryland who enlisted in the Continental Army when he was about 14 years old — but sadly died three years later in the Battle of Camden.

By Ella Spitz • Jul 16, 2026

News

A Teenage Orphan Who Died In Battle During The Revolutionary War Once Had No Name — But Forensic Scientists Just Identified Him

Researchers discovered that the previously-unknown teenager was John Pumphrey, a boy from Maryland who enlisted in the Continental Army when he was about 14 years old — but sadly died three years later in the Battle of Camden.

By Ella Spitz • July 16, 2026

An Impostor Fooled An Entire French Village For 4 Years. Then A Man With One Leg Appeared In Court

In the 1550s, an impostor named Arnaud du Tilh convinced a whole town he was a missing man named Martin Guerre, only to be found out in one of the most dramatic ways possible.

By Braden Bjella • Jul 16, 2026

News

An Impostor Fooled An Entire French Village For 4 Years. Then A Man With One Leg Appeared In Court

In the 1550s, an impostor named Arnaud du Tilh convinced a whole town he was a missing man named Martin Guerre, only to be found out in one of the most dramatic ways possible.

By Braden Bjella • July 16, 2026

Iron Shackles Worn By Slaves 2,300 Years Ago Found Alongside Ancient Weapons In Northern France

Archaeologists excavating Celtic ruins in the town of Allonnes discovered 2,300-year-old iron shackles, as well as a religious sanctuary with coins, jewelry, and weapons laid as offerings to the gods.

By Ella Spitz • Jul 15, 2026

News

Iron Shackles Worn By Slaves 2,300 Years Ago Found Alongside Ancient Weapons In Northern France

Archaeologists excavating Celtic ruins in the town of Allonnes discovered 2,300-year-old iron shackles, as well as a religious sanctuary with coins, jewelry, and weapons laid as offerings to the gods.

By Ella Spitz • July 15, 2026

‘Everyone Knew’: Some Believe A General In The American Revolution Was Openly Gay. He Had A Strange Rule For Party Guests

Baron Friedrich von Steuben adopted two adult men and once asked guests not to wear "a whole pair of breeches" to a party, leading to speculation about his sexuality.

By Braden Bjella • Jul 15, 2026

News

‘Everyone Knew’: Some Believe A General In The American Revolution Was Openly Gay. He Had A Strange Rule For Party Guests

Baron Friedrich von Steuben adopted two adult men and once asked guests not to wear "a whole pair of breeches" to a party, leading to speculation about his sexuality.

By Braden Bjella • July 15, 2026

The Body Of ‘Green Boots’ Has Served As A Macabre Guidepost For Mount Everest Climbers For 30 Years. Now, His Identity Was Just Unveiled

For 30 years, "Green Boots" was thought to be the Indo-Tibetan Border Police Officer Tsewang Paljor — but new DNA evidence shows that the body actually belongs to Dorje Morup, a fellow officer from that ill-fated expedition in 1996.

By Ella Spitz • Jul 14, 2026

News

The Body Of ‘Green Boots’ Has Served As A Macabre Guidepost For Mount Everest Climbers For 30 Years. Now, His Identity Was Just Unveiled

For 30 years, "Green Boots" was thought to be the Indo-Tibetan Border Police Officer Tsewang Paljor — but new DNA evidence shows that the body actually belongs to Dorje Morup, a fellow officer from that ill-fated expedition in 1996.

By Ella Spitz • July 14, 2026

Play-Doh Started As A Wallpaper Cleaner In The 1930s. Here’s How It Became One Of The Most Popular Toys In History

A soap company called Kutol Products saved itself from bankruptcy in the 1950s by reformulating its wallpaper cleaning putty into Play-Doh, which immediately became a bestselling children's toy.

By Braden Bjella • Jul 14, 2026

News

Play-Doh Started As A Wallpaper Cleaner In The 1930s. Here’s How It Became One Of The Most Popular Toys In History

A soap company called Kutol Products saved itself from bankruptcy in the 1950s by reformulating its wallpaper cleaning putty into Play-Doh, which immediately became a bestselling children's toy.

By Braden Bjella • July 14, 2026

Archaeologists Digging Near Hadrian’s Wall Just Unearthed An Ancient Roman Statue Depicting A Guardian Spirit

Researchers excavating the ruins of the Roman military fortress at Vindolanda believe the ancient sculpture depicts a Genius, a protective spirit that was said to bring prosperity and security.

By Ella Spitz • Jul 13, 2026

News

Archaeologists Digging Near Hadrian’s Wall Just Unearthed An Ancient Roman Statue Depicting A Guardian Spirit

Researchers excavating the ruins of the Roman military fortress at Vindolanda believe the ancient sculpture depicts a Genius, a protective spirit that was said to bring prosperity and security.

By Ella Spitz • July 13, 2026

Who Was Andrés Escobar, The Colombian Player Who Was Killed After Scoring An Own Goal In The World Cup?

Less than two weeks after accidentally scoring in his own team's goal at the 1994 World Cup, soccer player Andrés Escobar was fatally shot at a nightclub in Medellín — and the murder may have been retaliation for Colombia's elimination from the tournament.

By Braden Bjella • Jul 13, 2026

News

Who Was Andrés Escobar, The Colombian Player Who Was Killed After Scoring An Own Goal In The World Cup?

Less than two weeks after accidentally scoring in his own team's goal at the 1994 World Cup, soccer player Andrés Escobar was fatally shot at a nightclub in Medellín — and the murder may have been retaliation for Colombia's elimination from the tournament.

By Braden Bjella • July 13, 2026

2,000-Year-Old Roman Sandals Were Just Found In Stunning Condition At An Ancient Mine In Spain

The researchers dated the soles, made of esparto grass, to three different time periods, ranging from the 4th century B.C.E. to the 1st century C.E., proving that this specific type of sandal was used across many centuries.

By Ella Spitz • Jul 10, 2026

News

2,000-Year-Old Roman Sandals Were Just Found In Stunning Condition At An Ancient Mine In Spain

The researchers dated the soles, made of esparto grass, to three different time periods, ranging from the 4th century B.C.E. to the 1st century C.E., proving that this specific type of sandal was used across many centuries.

By Ella Spitz • July 10, 2026

Most Medieval European Women Could Either Marry A Man Or Become A Nun. Then They Found A Third Option

Beguines didn't take formal religious vows, but they lived together in communities called beguinages and devoted their lives to prayer and service.

By Braden Bjella • Jul 10, 2026

News

Most Medieval European Women Could Either Marry A Man Or Become A Nun. Then They Found A Third Option

Beguines didn't take formal religious vows, but they lived together in communities called beguinages and devoted their lives to prayer and service.

By Braden Bjella • July 10, 2026